Diadem's Birthright

Chapter 1: Dawn Of Freedom

"Hey Mira, happy birthday to you. Sorry I couldn't get you a cake." My best friend Ashley said while barging into my room where I was packing up my belongings.

Ashley, a 17 year old drop dead gorgeous blonde with a streamlined body who was by the way the only friend I had who wasn't from the orphanage. She was the only child of her father, Mr. Whitney who owned the biggest rice mill factory in this small country town of Sun Valley.

Upon entering, she went straight to my bed sat down, crisscrossing her stiletto clad legs on each other while facing my direction.

"You know," she continued. "Clocking 18 means you have automatically become an adult. So do you feel like one already? As in, now you can go to bars freely and drink to your heart's content and you won't get yelled at for doing things you aren't normally allowed to do." She said dramatically.

I paused what I was doing then turned to her while laughing, "You know Ash, from what you have said I still think you are more of an adult than I am."

"Why do you say so Mira?"

"Well, based on what you said about going to bars and getting drunk and doing extreme things that always get you yelled at, you know that between us two you have done all that and you are barely 18 years old."

Ashley scrunched her face up while countering "Yeah yeah, I know that and that's why my dad always wishes he could exchange you for me but still he practically takes you as his second daughter."

We both laughed.

"But seriously speaking Mirabelle, I have never seen someone as hardworking and studious as you in my entire life," she said while looking me straight in the eyes with a serious look on her face. "You know with your circumstances of reaching this age without being adopted, clocking 18 means you are going to leave the institution where you grew up in and you will also be deprived of the care of the government and have to fend for yourself."

She took both my hands in hers before continuing. "No one knows as much as I do how you tried your very best in your studies while we were in high school, neither partying nor missing classes so that you could become one of the top 3 in the whole prefecture and how you also aced your scholarship exams into the prestigious university of Michigan while also managing three part time jobs at the same time. You are a truly amazing person my dear best friend. You know Mira, when I first saw you at the assembly on the first day of junior high standing by yourself at the corner with your curls stubbornly packed with some strands falling over your face and your glasses that looked twice the size of your eye always falling over your nose while you use your middle finger to push it back unto your nose bridge, I never knew that you would become someone very important in my life much later in the future."

I blinked back the tears that I had started pooling in my eyes and smiled at Ashley as she continued.

"And if you weren't my best friend I would totally be jealous of you."

A tear slid down, "You know I wouldn't have done all this if I didn't have you and your dad as my supporters." I said while reaching out to hug her, "I'm so glad and thankful to have you as a friend. You protected me from all those nasty bullies back in junior high and although I am someone boring and plain, you still chose to become friends with me. Thank you very much Ashley for always standing by me and supporting me all these years" I said tearfully.

"Mira!" She said while holding my face tightly in her two hands. "Don't you ever say that about yourself, don't ever call yourself plain or boring. Even with your large glasses covering most part of your face and your stubborn curls of a hair and that extra large baggy t-shirts you always wear your beauty still shows itself. You have the kinda bod I can never have no matter how much I diet or exercise and trust me I've tried all that but I still can't get that perfect figure eight shape. Your skin also has this perfect combination of brown coffee mixed with cream it's smoothness is also perfect too. Any guy who fails to see that hidden beauty doesn't deserve you ever." She shouted while standing up angrily, "God, I really am furiously jealous right now Mira. I'm serious right now, don't ever belittle yourself ever again, okay?!"

Knowing it wouldn't beget anything good if Ashley wasn't placated when she became fired up I readily agreed and tried to steer her attention from the topic.

"Okay, I've heard you Ash. It's almost time for my departure so come help me with my remaining belongings."

"Oh! Sorry, lemme help with that." We finished packing my belongings then took them to her dad's car parked downstairs, I bid farewell to the other children and staff at the orphanage then Ashley drove me to the train station where I booked a ticket to Michigan. Ashley stayed with me giving me dating tips and instructions on how to behave in the big city until the train arrived. We hugged each other one last time with promises to call each other everyday and then I boarded the train to commence my journey to my new Dawn of Freedom

...........^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.............

"What's that horrible sound?"

"It doesn't sound like farmer John's tractor."

"Is that a train I hear?"

"Wait! Where am I right now?" I opened my eyes in a daze then stood up to close the open window where the offensive noise was coming from but I stopped short upon getting a glimpse of the outside. Although it was clearly past midnight, the blinding lights from the streets across from where I was and the ones that were sparkling like fairy lights in the distance all made it seem like it was daytime. The view of the bubbling nightlife immediately shocked me back to the present making me remember the events of the past two days.

"Oh! I'm in Michigan already." I remembered Ashley's dad giving me a key and an address upon my departure directing me to this building where he had arranged for me to stay and for Ashley to join me when she resumes later. I turned my back on the window to take in the view once more. It was an apartment equipped with double sofas, double beds on either side of the room, a study desk fully equipped with computers on either side of each beds. The floor was covered in vinyl carpet. A door was located to the right which I remember led to the bathroom and another one on the other side of the room which was the entrance. A kitchenette with different array of equipments could be sighted in the enclosure near the entrance and finally a closet in the far side of the room. I could never in a million years afford such a living quarters with my meagre savings so I was entirely grateful for Mr Whitney's assistance. I picked up the brand new phone Ashley gave me at the station as my birthday gift then sent her a text.

{ It's nighttime here. Missing you already Ash, when are you resuming?}

{It's so boring over here too.

I miss you Mira. I'm trying

my best to come over there

quickly but the exams are

harder than I thought.}

{Try your best dear, I know you can do it. Prove to all those dumbasses that you aren't and airhead}

{Hmm, alright dear. Dad has

been on my case a lot lately too.

I can't wait to finish this boring

provisional exams}

{I know you can do it, FIGHTING!!! good night dear Love you}

{Good night dear, sweet

dreams. Love you too XOXO}

I logged out then closed my eyes to continue my sleep as the fatigue of the journey overcame me once more.